Earlier today I stopped by the office of a really nice colleague - a medical doctor

[malaise]

She is a brilliant second generation doctor who specialized in geriatric medicine.
She was a regular in our walking group, but she's been missing for a few months. I went to wish her seasons greetings, because she has been over-worked since Covid and I also know she's been looking after a very sick family member.
We laughed about a few things and talked about this and that including the boosters which are available from next week.
She noticed a plaster on my left little finger and asked me about it. I stuck the finger with a splinter while gardening on Sunday and washed it in peroxide. The finger started hurting yesterday so I repeated the peroxide wash and then spread some Neosporin. She then asked when last I took antibiotics (at least seven years ago) and suggested that I take a five day dose as she didn't like the swelling.

Before I left I asked her if I should come for the booster next week after taking the antibiotics.
She said absolutely not - do not take the booster shot or any other dose of a Covid 19 vaccine while taking an antibiotic. She suggested that I take the 3rd jab no earlier than a week after completing the antibiotics.

So DUers if you are taking antibiotics for anything, double check with your doctor about the timing of your vaccine.

[Patterson]

1. The National Council for Infectious Diseases says otherwise.

[malaise]

2. I also checked a British antibiotic site and theysay that while

one won't offset the other, if you have flu, fever and some other problems, you should not take the jab at that time. Given that some of the medical issues they mention are often treated with antibiotics, I'll follow my colleague's advice.
It can't hurt to check with your doctor.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. Hey why not err on the side of caution!:). Besides you may need

To stay home anyway with your finger! That way you can stay away from the people with covid cooties

[malaise]

23. +1,000

Still walking in the morning but I'm home most of the time

[Laura PourMeADrink]

32. Me too. And I have calculated that I just hit 80% crazy. Maybe DU should

set up a forum.

[lark]

39. This is just common sense really.

I got the flu shot for years at work - it was required and I would probably have done it anyway. They always asked us if we had a cough or sniffles or fever and if we did, we didn't get the shot until the 2nd go around a month later. With my allergies, this happened several times. They never asked us about antibiotics, maybe the should have?

[demmiblue]

6. So does the CDC.

Q. I’m taking antibiotics. Should I still get the vaccine?

A. Physicians are instructed not to withhold a vaccination if a person is taking antibiotics, according to the CDC’s prevaccination checklist. However, those with moderate or severe acute illness should wait until their condition has improved before getting a vaccine.

And according to Antibiotic Research UK, a company that studies antibiotic resistance, antibiotics should have no impact on the coronavirus or the vaccine.

[raccoon]

3. Also, if you're on birth control pills, antibiotics limit their effectiveness. Nt

[malaise]

4. First time I''m hearing this

and I used the pill

[raccoon]

24. I heard it a lot and I used to use the pill. It may be no longer true

But I definitely heard that a few centuries, I mean a few decades ago.

[malaise]

25. Hehehehhe- two of us

[KS Toronado]

5. Good info to know. K & R

[Joinfortmill]

8. Thank you

[MrsCoffee]

9. Same with steroids. I had double knee injections and had to wait a couple weeks to get my booster.

[Rebl2]

10. I know

when I got the booster my rheumatologist reminded me not to take my methotrexate for a week after the booster. It was the same with the first two shots. I only take it once a week, so wasn’t a problem.

[malaise]

13. That one will knock you out on its own

Stay well

[Rebl2]

14. The methotrexate?

[malaise]

15. Yes

Have a good friend who uses it.

[Rebl2]

16. I take 15mg

once a week-not a large amount-and usually feel a little nauseous the next day. Have taken it since 1985 for my RA.

[malaise]

17. She's been using it for a long time as well

but the nausea gets to her - that said the nausea is less stressful than the RA

[Rebl2]

18. True the RA

can be stressful when it gets out of control.

[FarPoint]

36. Excellent information!

I have several home infusion clients on methotrexate....their physicians have said nothing about this....Thank you.

[Rebl2]

37. Remember this

is my doctor saying this in my case. Your infusion clients should speak with their doctor about this and see what their doctors recommend for them.

[FarPoint]

38. Absolutely. .

My task is to prompt infusion clients to process healthy choices with their physician...

[yaesu]

11. I got my booster today & I think that question was on the questionnaire but I'm not 100% sure nt

[marble falls]

19. Did NOT know that! Thanks for taking a splinter to keep us up to date!!!!

[malaise]

20. Hehehehehhe

Thank her for noticing the plaster

[KentuckyWoman]

21. Kick and rec

I was told the same thing.

[FakeNoose]

22. Good to know! Thanks for spreading the good word

[malaise]

27. YW

[secondwind]

28. I love DU! We look out for each other!

Thank you, Malaise.. I wasn't aware of this..

[anamnua]

29. I am also medical doctor

and I think your friend's advice -- albeit that she sounds like a decent person -- is complete nonsense. Get that booster ASAP!

[demmiblue]

30. +1

I don't know if you are a medical doctor or not, but you ARE correct!

[Disaffected]

31. This antibiotics advisory seems like misinformation.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/pre-vaccination-screening-form.pdf

does not mention antibiotics.

https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-frequently-asked-questions

doesn't either.

https://www.nfid.org/2020/11/18/7-key-facts-you-should-know-about-antibiotics/

says:

'There is no influence or interaction between antibiotics and COVID-19 vaccines, so when indicated, antibiotics may be taken at any time relative to COVID vaccine administration.

January 5, 2021'

Your doctor friend seems to be wrong on this one.

[malaise]

33. Not likely

She's a locally and internationally recognized award winning pro - she and others know that something is already wrong when you're taking anti-biotics. Bottom line, tell your doctor what you're taking.

[Disaffected]

35. Your argument is a logical fallacy.

Argument from Authority:

'A formal fallacy in which it is argued that because a perceived authority figure (or figures) believes a proposition (relevant to their authority) to be true, that proposition must therefore be true. This is also known as an appeal to authority. Arguments must be based on evidence.'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority

I.E. whether or not "she is a locally and internationally award winning pro" means little in this context.

Sorry to be frank about it but ill-advised medical advice can be dangerous to others as well as yourself..

"....... tell your doctor what you're taking." That we can agree on.

[flying_wahini]

40. Also, don't have a mammogram for 2 weeks. Not sure about other diagnostic tests.

This came from a Radiologist MD.

[yardwork]

41. Did you get a tetanus shot, too?

If you haven't had a tetanus booster in recent years, ask about getting one. Wounds like the one you describe can put you at risk for tetanus.

[malaise]

42. I didn't

I'll do that early in the new year. The swelling has gone down and it's barely hurting now - truthfully I think the peroxide and Neosporin worked, but at my age a five day dose of antibiotics can't hurt. I'll have my booster shot two Mondays from now.

[yardwork]

43. Tetanus is rare, but fatal. Regular antibiotics won't prevent it.

The bug that causes tetanus thrives in low-oxygen conditions, like those caused by a puncture wound.

[Ms. Toad]

46. Two weeks is too late.

You need a tetanus booster within 48 hours of a puncture wound. Especially a puncture wound whild gardening - because of the risk of manure in the soil.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-puncture-wounds/basics/art-20056665

We drove pretty much non-stop to get to Nebraska after a puncture wound while canoing. (We were headed there anyway - but to make it in under the 48 hour mark we didn't stop overnight.) Tetanus is too dangerous to mess around with.

[malaise]

47. This one is healing fine

Thanks

[Ms. Toad]

48. That doesn't mean you are tetanus-free.

Tetanus travels up the nerves to the central nervous system. It does not necessarly cause nflammation at the wound site.

[malaise]

49. Thanks

[malaise]

50. Thanks

[canetoad]

44. Sugar and soap!

A little grated soap, a pinch of sugar. Mix with a drop or two of water, just enough to make it sticky. Slather on a bandaid - works as a drawing ointment to remove splinters etc.

[malaise]

45. I never heard of that one

Thank you my friend - will remember for the future - it's almost back to normal

[Cozmo]

51. My doc refused to perform a procedure if I had or recently had been taking an antibiotic

So definitely check it out first with your Doc

[Deminpenn]

52. Had a friend with nearly

the exact same injury as yours with the same symptoms. My friend ended up in the hospital for 4 days on IV antibiotics as the infection nearly got into the bone which makes treatment a lot harder and more complicated.